KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher, buoyed by Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent, alongside positive cues from Wall Street. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.30 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 1,635.86 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56. The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, and fluctuated between an intraday high of 1,642.44 and a low of 1,622.62 during the trading session. However, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 723 to 497, while 466 counters were unchanged, 1,075 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.74 billion units valued at RM3.61 billion compared with yesterday’s 2.81 billion units valued at RM2.57 billion.
The Trump administration is moving to tighten export controls on advanced AI chips , with Malaysia and Thailand identified as potential rerouting hubs. According to Bloomberg sources, the proposed policy—still in draft stage—would require US chipmakers such as Nvidia Corp to obtain licenses before shipping high-performance AI processors to these two Southeast Asian nations. While exemptions are reportedly under consideration for US allies and to maintain supply chain continuity, the proposal signals a broadening of US semiconductor restrictions —one that may introduce new volatility for chip-related businesses and infrastructure players in the region. Strategic Implications for Southeast Asia Malaysia and Thailand play a critical role in the global chip supply chain , especially in packaging, testing, and assembly . Any policy that introduces compliance uncertainty or additional licensing hurdles could prompt: Delays in chip delivery schedules R...